The Sultanate is ranked 119th cheapest in the world for broadband with an average monthly cost of USD45.99, according to a study conducted by broadband market experts at Cable.co.uk, a United Kingdom (UK)-based telecommunications comparison service that provides a transparent view of broadband prices across different providers.
The company recently collected data from 3,405 fixed-line broadband deals in 223 countries to compare the average expected cost in different regions.
The data was gathered and analysed between September 7, 2023 and November 10, 2023.
Sudan offers the world’s cheapest broadband, with an average cost of USD2.40 per month, and joined on the podium by Argentina and Belarus.
The Solomon Islands is the most expensive place to get fixed-line broadband, with an average package price of USD457.84 per month.
Commenting on the findings of the research, consumer telecoms analyst Dan Howdle at Cable.co.uk, said, “It is not altogether too surprising that the most advanced, developed nations tend to have some of the most expensive broadband.
“After all, earnings are higher, and investment and rollout of new technologies tends to be ahead of the curve. It is interesting, however, that the cheapest broadband in the world tends to be in Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States nations.”
He also said, “These countries tend to have some of the most advanced infrastructure too (high per cent full fibre FTTP coverage), and are somehow able to offer it to users at very low prices. And although Western Europe, North America and other parts of the world are catching up infrastructurally, the rest of the world stands no chance of matching those price points.
“In a way it obliterates the notion that regions such as Western Europe and North America pay more because of the cost of rolling out new technologies, and actually points more readily to the idea that people in these regions are made to pay more simply because they can.” – Azlan Othman
